Louise Thompson has released previously unseen, upsetting footage of her difficult childbirth experience and is now asking to meet with Health Secretary Wes Streeting to push for better maternity care across the UK.
After experiencing difficulties herself four years ago, the Made In Chelsea star is working with former MP Theo Clarke to push for a dedicated maternity commissioner. Their campaign follows a parliamentary investigation they led, which revealed that maternity care across the UK is ‘shockingly poor’.
Louise posted videos to Instagram about her traumatic birth experience in 2021, which led to a diagnosis of PTSD. She dedicated the post to those who had lost babies or didn’t survive childbirth.
The actress also announced she’s started a petition calling for a dedicated maternity commissioner. She’s asking her fans to sign it, hoping to reach 100,000 signatures and bring the issue up for discussion in Parliament.
Louise has spoken openly about the health issues she faces after a difficult childbirth, including Asherman’s Syndrome – a condition where scar tissue forms in the uterus – and worsening bowel problems. These complications, along with emergency surgery after significant bleeding, mean she is unable to have more children.
After hearing from other mothers with similar struggles, she used her video to call for a nationwide plan to improve maternity care.
Louise shared that she didn’t realize childbirth could be so damaging, explaining that many women are leaving maternity care feeling hurt and unheard.
Many people live with chronic pain, and others struggle with their mental health, leading to a feeling of disconnection from their own bodies. It’s important to remember this when interacting with others.
Sadly, some babies don’t live through childbirth. This happens too often, isn’t something we have to accept, and is particularly heartbreaking in a developed nation like ours.
Currently, there’s no overall plan for maternity care in the country, and it’s time we developed one. Also, no single person is clearly responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of mothers and their babies, and we need to designate someone to fill that role.
There isn’t anyone officially responsible for addressing this issue, so I began a petition. Thankfully, Theo Clarke and the government have given it their approval.
‘And now it’s on us, if this reaches 100,000 signatures, Parliament has to listen.
This could result in a dedicated person overseeing maternity care, a clear plan of action, genuine accountability, and meaningful improvements.
If you’ve experienced childbirth yourself, know someone who has, or simply believe women deserve comprehensive postpartum care, please consider signing this petition and sharing it with others. Don’t just scroll by – your support can make a difference.
‘This is for all those that didn’t make it, and for every parent who deserved better.’
Louise captioned the post with a message for those who have lost babies or didn’t survive, dedicating it to them.
‘Thank you to the 30,000 of you who have already signed our petition.
This number is important because it also represents how many women experience PTSD after giving birth annually.
I strongly believe our country needs a maternity commissioner to ensure every woman has a safe and respectful birthing experience.
It’s time our government started acting on the 748 suggestions made over the last ten years from different investigations.
It’s incredibly reassuring to see so much support for women, their reproductive rights, and the well-being of their children. This is especially important when some, like Steven Bartlett, are placing blame on women for falling birth rates.
Now is the moment to act. I just finished a fascinating book about tipping points, and I believe we’re on the verge of causing something significant to happen. I’d love for you to join me in making that happen.
We can’t continue to postpone addressing this important issue while prioritizing other projects. After all, childbirth marks the beginning of life, and nothing is more crucial. It’s essential that we establish consistent, high-quality care for every mother and baby.
‘Next steps – We would love a conversation with our health minister Wes.’
Louise and Theo founded the Birth Trauma All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) and then spearheaded the first nationwide investigation into birth trauma.
A recent 2024 report revealed serious problems with NHS maternity care, finding that the quality of services varies widely across the country and is often shockingly poor. The report concluded that consistently good care isn’t typical, but rather something that happens infrequently.
I was absolutely heartbroken hearing the testimonies – over 1,300 women shared their experiences, and some were just devastating. Imagine new mothers, left alone for hours in bloodied sheets, and then being scolded by the very midwives who should have been caring for them, simply for the natural mess of childbirth. It’s something I’ll never forget.
As a lifestyle expert focused on maternal wellbeing, I’ve sadly heard stories that truly break my heart. I recently learned about a mother carrying twins who went into premature labor at just 19 weeks. After tragically losing one of her babies, a consultant shockingly told her to simply ‘stop stressing.’ It’s devastating to think about. And then there was another mother who was brushed off as ‘anxious’ – she repeatedly voiced concerns about potential complications, but wasn’t taken seriously, and heartbreakingly, later lost her baby to those very issues. These experiences highlight a serious problem: mothers’ legitimate concerns aren’t always heard or respected, and that can have devastating consequences.
The report revealed that inadequate care is often accepted as standard practice, and women are often treated as a burden.
A woman carrying twins went into premature labor at 19 weeks and, after losing one of her babies, was told by a doctor to simply relax. In another case, a mother’s concerns about potential complications were dismissed, and sadly, her baby later died from those same issues.
Louise shared on Monday that the difficult experience of her birth has continued to affect her, causing her to feel uneasy around other expectant mothers.
The actress, who developed PTSD after a difficult experience, shared that she felt deeply saddened when meeting pregnant women, as it brought up painful memories for her.
She explained to The Times that meeting someone who was pregnant would make her feel like she brought bad luck, worrying them about being around her – though she admits that’s an irrational thought.
In the past, people often felt embarrassed to discuss difficult birth experiences, because there was an expectation that new parents should immediately feel happy and thankful.
I’ve read Louise’s book, Lucky, cover to cover, and honestly, it broke my heart. She really lays it all out there – the whole, incredibly difficult birth she had at Chelsea and Westminster hospital. It’s so brave of her to share something so traumatic, and it’s stuck with me ever since. It’s not just a story, it’s her story, and it’s powerful.
In her book, she described being repeatedly denied a Cesarean section. She felt too small – standing at 5 feet tall with a partner who is 6 feet 3 inches tall – to safely deliver the baby vaginally.
Doctors eventually ordered a C-section after it was found Leo’s head was stuck in her pelvis.
She didn’t realize it at the time, but she had actually torn her uterus, causing severe bleeding. She lost three and a half liters of blood – over three-quarters of the total blood in her body.
She described seeing a large amount of my blood spray onto the curtain and onto the floor.
She added: ‘No one gave us any reassurance; it was all like some sick nightmare.
The room was filled with visible distress, and I could feel everyone’s anxiety as they touched me. I believe a scheduled C-section would have led to a much better outcome.
Louise recently announced that she and her fiancé, Ryan Libbey, are ready to try for another baby. They plan to use IVF and a surrogate to grow their family.
The Birth Trauma Association estimates that around 20,000 women in the UK each year experience post-traumatic stress disorder after childbirth. Additionally, as many as 200,000 women may develop trauma-related symptoms similar to PTSD as a result of their childbirth experience.
As a long-time supporter of the NHS, I was shocked to learn just how much of its resources are going towards clinical negligence claims. In 2022-23, these claims cost a staggering £69.3 billion, and a huge majority – around 65% – was specifically related to issues during childbirth and care for newborns. It’s incredibly worrying to see such a large portion of the budget tied up in these liabilities, and it really highlights the need for improvements in maternity and neonatal care.
A recent report by Baroness Amos revealed that maternity services in England are continuing to face challenges in delivering consistently safe and dependable care for mothers and newborns across the country.
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2026-01-27 14:08